WordGarden.iotackler
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈæklə/
US
Meanings
Noun
a player who brings down or stops an opponent by tackling, especially in football or rugby
a person who takes on and deals with a task, problem, or challenge
Beyond the definition
A "tackler" is usually a player in a sport like rugby or American football who stops an opponent by grabbing and bringing them down. The word is mainly used for defensive play, especially when talking about someone who is good at making tackles. You might read, "He was one of the team's best tacklers," meaning he often stopped the other side successfully.
It can sometimes be used more loosely for someone who deals with a problem in a direct way, but that use is much less common. In everyday English, people are far more likely to use "tackle" as a verb, as in "She tackled the problem quickly," than to call someone a "tackler" outside sports.
The word "tackler" is most often used in sports, especially rugby and American football. It refers to a player who tackles an opponent, usually by stopping and bringing down the person with the ball. In this sense, a tackler is part of the defense and is often praised for strength, timing, and good technique. For example: "She is one of the safest tacklers on the team."
In sports writing and commentary, the word is common when people compare players: "He is a strong tackler," or "The coach wants better tacklers in defense." It is a clear, practical noun for someone who performs tackles well or often.
Outside sports, the word appears only sometimes in a wider, metaphorical way for a person who deals with trouble directly. Even there, it is not the most natural choice in many situations. English speakers usually prefer the verb "tackle" instead of the noun "tackler" when talking about problems, tasks, or social issues.
That is why phrases like "a determined person who tackles problems" sound more natural than "a tackler of problems." So, if you learn this word, the safest and most useful meaning is the sports one: a player who stops an opponent by making a tackle.
The word comes from "tackle," which has several meanings in English, but in modern everyday use, "tackler" strongly points to sport. Keeping that main meaning in mind will help you understand it correctly when you hear it in match reports, coaching talk, or sports news.
Examples
- 1
Rugby player
She was one of the best tacklers on the rugby team.
- Domain
tackler is used mainly for a player in sports such as rugby, football, or soccer
- 2
Linebacker
The coach wants a sure tackler at linebacker, especially against a team that runs a lot.
- Phrasesure tackler
a player who usually tackles successfully
- 3
Playing style
He isn't very tall, but he's an aggressive tackler who never backs away from a challenge.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tacklernoun
Forms
- tacklerspluralnoun